Easel



Aug. 15, 1950 G. K. GAU FF EASEL Filed Sept. 10, 1946 INVENTOR ia/P K 6340/? Wu KW ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 15, 1950 "r; 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OEFICJE-- EASEL George K. Gaufl, Grefieck, N. Y.

Application September 10, 1946, Serial No. 695,899

3 Claims.

This invention relates to easels.

An object of this invention is an easel of such structure that it may be easily and quickly arranged in-compact form for storage or trans- I portation.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the easel in open position;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the easel in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the easel partially open, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view generally similar to Fig. 2.

A head III of wood or other suitable material is formed with a slot I I extending upwardly from its bottom edge and the slot is provided with an oblique inner wall I2. A pivot pin I3 traverses the slot II and supports a leg I4 of wood or other suitable material for swinging movement. The end of the leg I4 adjacent the slot inner wall I2 is provided with an oblique surface It for engagement with the wall I2 to limit the extent of swinging movement of the leg I4.

The head I It supports a trapezoidal block I6 of wood or other suitable material having its parallel faces arranged parallel to the pivot pin I3. A pair of pivot pins I1 and I8 are supported by the head ID at either side of the block l6 near the plane of the bottom face of the block. A pair of legs I 9 and 29 of wood or other suitable material are pivotally attached to the head III by the pins I1 and I8 respectively for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the leg I 4. The arrangement of the legs I9 and is such that when they are approximately parallel, portions of the legs below the pivot pins engage the ends of the bottom of the block I6 and when the legs are swung apart, portions thereof above the pivot pins engage the side faces of the block I6 to limit the extent of movement of the legs.

A tray 2I is supported by the legs I9 and 29. The tray consists of two sections 22 and 23 of wood or other suitable material, one set of ends of which are interconnected by a hinge 24. The other ends of the sections 22 and 23 are pivotally connected to the legs I9 and 20 by pivot pins 25 and 26 respectively.

In the open condition of the easel, the adjacent ends of the two sections 22 and 23 are in full re ister to provide a horizontal tray extending 2 between the legs I9 and 20 for supporting a blackboard or the like. The leg I4 is swung into the positionin which the leg surface I5 engages the slot inner wall I2 and supports the two legs I9 and 20 in the usual manner. The easel is collapsed into compact condition by swinging upwardly the inner ends of the sections 22 and 23 with corresponding swinging of the legs I9 and 29 into substantially parallel relation and swinging of the leg I4 into the space between the two legs I9 and 20. Ihe legs I9 and 20 swing in a common plane while the leg I4 swings in the plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the legs I 9 and 29.

By reason of having the tray formed of two hinged sections, each hinged to a leg, it is possible to collapse or open the easel in tripod fashion without detaching the tray.

I claim:

1. An easel comprising a head, a pair of legs pivoted to said head for swinging movement in a common plane, a block fixed to said head between said legs and having surfaces on opposite sides thereof engageable by said legs to limit outward swinging movement thereof, a third leg pivoted to said head for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the first plane, and a tray supported by said pair of legs, said tray consisting of two sections having one set of ends hinged together and having their remaining ends pivoted to said pair of legs.

2. An easel comprising a head, a trapezoidal block fixed to said head, a pair of legs pivoted to said head for swinging movement in a com mon plane and having portions engageable with the inclined sides of said block to limit swinging movement of said legs, a third leg pivoted to said head for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the first plane and having an oblique surface engageable with a surface of said head to limit the extent of outward swinging movement of said third leg, and a tray supported by said pair of legs, said tray consisting of two sections having one set of ends hinged together and having their remaining ends pivoted to said pair of legs.

3. An easel comprising a head formed with a slot, a trapezoidal block fixed to said head, a pair of legs pivoted to said head for swinging movement in a common plane and having portions engageable with the sides of said block to limit swinging movement of said legs, a third leg pivoted to said head for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the first plane and having one end located in said slot, said leg havin a portion engageable with the slot end to limit swinging movement of the leg and a tray supported by said pair of legs, said tray consisting of two sections having one set of ends hinged together and having their remaining ends pivoted to said pair of legs.

GEORGE K. GAUFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

Number 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hogeland Dec. 13, 1870 Mead Mar. 9, 1886 Buckley Jan. 24, 1888 Ackerman May 28, 1889 Long July 7, 1931 

